Beadwork

Beads manufactured nowadays differ from those made one or two hundred years ago, particulary in colour shades and shape. Antique beads were all of European origin and made of glass. The articless discusses history of seed and pony beads and differences between historic and modern beads colours and shapes. It contains images of many Plains Indians pre-reservation items and list of the most widespread 19th century bead colours.

Since I got a Kibler long rifle, I decided to make a case for it. The rifle suffers a lot on reenacting camps and a case can help, is practical and can be nice. The choice fell on a gun case in the Indian style of the Athabascan speaking tribes. Such gun cases are simple, historically accurate and practical as well as pretty.

Side seam moccasins are the oldest known type of moccasins from the Great plains. During the first half of the 19th century, they were the only type of shoes worn by most of the Great plains and Plateau tribes. They consisted of a single piece of leather and had soft soles. Some of them were decorated with quill and beadwork. Very often they were made for trading purposes. Winter moccasins with the fur on were also made following this pattern.